Posted on: November 23, 2024 12:35 PM

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Former Bronx resident arrested for attempting to provide material support to ISIS and distributing instructions regarding homemade explosives

The Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that ERALD ALIMEHMETI was arrested in connection with a Complaint charging ALIMEHMETI with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”) and distributing instructional information regarding the making of explosives.  ALIMEHMETI was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron and ordered detained.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Erald Alimehmeti distributed—on pro-ISIS channels—dozens of instructional materials, including those he personally created, that describe handling firearms and making specific explosives.  Alimehmeti also allegedly discussed planning and training for terrorist attacks on behalf of ISIS, provided instructions on how to spray explosives on innocent people, and went so far as to claim that ‘it’s time for a genocide.’  I commend our law enforcement partners and this Office’s career prosecutors who worked tirelessly to detect and disrupt Alimehmeti’s alleged terrorist activities.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Erald Alimehmeti not only allegedly attempted to provide material support to ISIS by trying to recruit and train who he believed to be like minded individuals online, but also repeatedly shared multiple instructions on how to make explosives for use in a terrorist attack.

ALIMEHMETI is a U.S. and Albanian citizen and former resident of the Bronx, New York, and moved to Albania in 2014.  ALIMEHMETI was arrested by Albanian authorities and imprisoned in late 2015 to 2019 and again from late 2020 to 2022 for weapons and assault offenses.

ALIMEHMETI, 33, of Tirana, Albania, is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distribution of information pertaining to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction in furtherance of a federal crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

From DOJ